Amphibians are the most threatened vertebrate class, with over 40% of species at risk of extinction. Zoos are increasingly critical participants in ex situ conservation breeding, disease management, and reintroduction programmes for amphibians.
Zoo amphibian conservation represents genuine welfare and conservation value when programmes are rigorously managed. Captive amphibians maintained in appropriate conditions with opportunities to express natural behaviours — including foraging, thermoregulation, and seasonal reproductive cycling — can have good welfare outcomes. The conservation imperative is urgent: without captive insurance populations, many species would face certain extinction as wild populations collapse under disease and habitat pressure. Welfare challenges in amphibian keeping include maintaining disease-free status, providing adequate humidity and temperature control, and meeting the feeding requirements of species with highly specific prey preferences. Well-resourced zoo programmes with veterinary oversight, species-appropriate husbandry, and clear conservation objectives serve both animal welfare and species survival goals.